KUCHING: Effective May 1, all national parks and nature reserves in Sarawak will implement new rates for entrance fees, park guiding fees and other charges.

The move was part of efforts to develop better products, services and facilities for the tourism sector, Sarawak Forestry chief executive officer/managing director Ali Yusop said today.

He said the corporation aimed to broaden the scope and functions of the national parks and nature reserve through an additional source of revenue, better facilities, services and manpower, in accordance with the new rates.

In a statement here today, he said the Sarawak Forestry was responsible in managing all national parks and nature reserves in the state, overseeing operational matters which were handled by wildlife experts, park guides, veterinarians and conservators, alike.

Ali, who is also Director of Forests and Controller of National Parks and Nature Reserves, said the new charges included entrance fees for the foreigners, locals, senior citizens and the disabled categories for World Heritage Site, national parks, Semenggoh Nature Reserve and other nature reserves, besides park guiding fees for leisure and adventure trekking and commercial filming and photography.

He said, the national parks and nature reserves had shown positive outcomes, in terms of visitation, industry and stakeholder interest, as well as worldwide recognition and support in the past year.

“Sarawak’s conservation efforts have successfully reached the world, via the national parks and nature reserves,” he said, adding that national parks and nature reserves, such as Bako and Semenggoh, had received more than 10,000 visitors last year.

He was confident that travel and tourism operators, as active agents in representing the beauty and wealth of Sarawak’s biodiversity, would be able to promote better quality in services and care for both local and foreign visitors.

For further information on the new rates, the public can contact the Visitors Information Centre at 082 248088 or visit Sarawak Forestry’s website at www.sarawakforestry.com. – Bernama